Marine Corps lieutenant and martial arts expert who fatally pummeled a Murrieta man for sleeping with the serviceman's girlfriend was convicted today of first-degree murder. Jurors deliberated over three days before finding Curtis Lee Krueger guilty of the killing of year-old Henry Stange, and also convicting him of assault resulting in great bodily injury.
He is expected to be sentenced to 25 years to life in state prison. Krueger's ex-girlfriend, year-old Ashlie Nicole Stapp, pleaded guilty in July to being an accessory after the fact and was sentenced to 10 months in jail and three years felony probation.
According to Deputy District Attorney Dan DeLimon, Stange was a prescription drug-addicted divorcee who developed a relationship with Stapp after the two began using drugs together.
At the time she was visiting and engaged in sexual relations with the victim, she was also Krueger's girlfriend, according to the prosecution.
Stange had been in a major car wreck that left him unable to work, resulting in financial hardships and dependence on painkillers, for which Stapp had a strong preference, according to DeLimon. The relationship between the victim and Stapp continued, and according to the brief, Krueger drove to the victim's house in the block of New Clay Street on the afternoon of May 24, According to DeLimon, Krueger recruited Stapp to help him clean up the crime scene and dismantle the home security surveillance system.
